In North Carolina, the percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was at the highest level in 1982, with 63%. The percentage has dropped significantly, reaching the lowest levels in 2006, with 31%. The actual number of alcohol-related deaths was also highest in 1982, with 827. In the most recent year of stats, out of all traffic fatalities, 27% involved a blood alcohol concentration at or above the level considered legally intoxicated - .08%.

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer's observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called "illegal per se", which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.

Year	Fatalities
	Tot	Alc-Rel	%	0.08+	%
1982	1,303	827	63	743	57
1983	1,234	672	54	609	49
1984	1,450	750	52	672	46
1985	1,482	686	46	605	41
1986	1,647	806	49	711	43
1987	1,584	764	48	682	43
1988	1,573	709	45	633	40
1989	1,471	621	42	556	38
1990	1,385	644	46	575	42
1991	1,369	600	44	547	40
1992	1,265	567	45	502	40
1993	1,389	529	38	459	33
1994	1,431	535	37	473	33
1995	1,448	501	35	443	31
1996	1,494	546	37	471	32
1997	1,483	545	37	472	32
1998	1,596	581	36	506	32
1999	1,505	573	38	491	33
2000	1,557	614	39	533	34
2001	1,530	536	35	458	30
2002	1,576	592	38	527	33
2003	1,531	554	36	474	31
2004	1,557	553	35	496	32
2005	1,534	549	36	484	32
2006	1,558	490	31	420	27

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the North Carolina, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

It is important to note that the North Carolina drunk driving statistics, as shown above, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as "fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or bicyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value."

The fatality rates shown above refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Criminal status of DUI laws in North Carolina

In North Carolina, 4th or subsequent offense is a class F felony, fewer offenses are classified as levels 1-5, based on length of sentence. Citation:§20-138.5 ⁽²⁾

Sources for North Carolina drunk driving information and statistics

US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02
⁽²⁾ National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004

National drunk driving statistics in the US

Learn about alcohol breath testers that work like vending machines.